[04/16/07 - 08:15 AM]Keith Olbermann Named Co-Host, NBC's "Football Night in America"Olbermann will call highlights and debate the NFL news and issues of the day with his "Football Night in America" colleagues.

NEW YORK � April 16, 2007 � Keith Olbermann has been named co-host of NBC's "Football Night in America" studio show, joining host Bob Costas and co-host Cris Collinsworth, and analysts Jerome Bettis and Tiki Barber, it was announced today by Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics. Olbermann will call highlights and debate the NFL news and issues of the day with his "Football Night in America" colleagues. This will be Olbermann's first network sports assignment in six years.

"Keith helped to elevate the medium of sports television earlier in his career, and now he will add his original style and flair to 'Football Night in America,'" said Ebersol. "I'm delighted to welcome him back into the NBC Sports family."

"This will, obviously, be great fun and a great privilege for me," said Olbermann. "To be reunited with NBC Sports, and Dick, and the entire production team, produces all the warm-and-fuzzies you'd be expecting. And even if they weren't old friends and colleagues, to get to work with the nonpareil of sportscasters in Bob, and the most insightful and honest of sports analysts in Cris, will be rewarding and challenging. I hope I can hold up my end of the equation."

Olbermann, who was named one of the Top Ten Most Powerful People in TV News for 2007 by Television Week, will continue to serve as host of MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," a unique, fast paced primetime newscast that counts down the day's top stories with Keith's particular wit and style. "Countdown" has become an extraordinary success story for MSNBC, beating CNN in the first quarter this year at 8 p.m. ET. "Countdown" also finished the first quarter on an amazing growth surge, up 76 percent in total viewers versus last year (711,000 v. 404,000).

In addition to "Countdown," Olbermann has reunited with his former ESPN "SportsCenter" partner Dan Patrick for regular guest spots on Patrick's ESPN Radio program, "The Dan Patrick Show." Keith joins Dan from 2 to 3 p.m. ET every day for sports commentary and analysis.

Olbermann began his NBC career in 1997, when he was anchor for NBC Sports, hosting the World Series and Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, and contributing to pre-game coverage of the Super Bowl. During that time he was also host of two primetime news programs on MSNBC, "The Big Show" and "White House In Crisis." Olbermann returned to MSNBC in 2003 as a substitute host on "Nachman" and an anchor for MSNBC's coverage of the war in Iraq before launching "Countdown" in April of 2003. Previously, Olbermann provided twice-daily commentary, "Speaking of Sports" and "Speaking of Everything" for ABC Radio Network. Prior to that, he was a regular contributor covering news and sports on CNN. His last network sports assignment was as senior correspondent and sportscaster for Fox Sports Net and host of Fox's postseason baseball coverage in 2001.

Olbermann is well known for anchoring ESPN's "SportsCenter" from 1992 to 1997, when his inimitable style made the blend of pop culture and sports a hallmark of the modern television sports reporter. While at ESPN, Olbermann helped launch ESPN2 and ESPN Radio network and wrote the critically acclaimed book "The Big Show" with Dan Patrick about his experiences working on "SportsCenter." Costas, who also worked with Olbermann on NBC Sports' MLB coverage in 1997-98, wrote the foreword to "The Big Show."

He is the recipient of numerous distinguished awards in radio and television broadcasting, including the 1995 Cable Ace Award for Best Sportscaster, 11 Golden Mike Awards for excellence in television and radio, and four Sports Emmy Awards. Olbermann also received two Edward R. Murrow Awards, one for his coverage of the events of 9/11 and another for the anniversary coverage of 9/11.

In addition to his extensive broadcasting experience, Olbermann has written for dozens of publications, including The New York Times, USA Today, Newsweek, Time, Sports Illustrated and Playboy. His first book, "The Major League Coaches," was published when he was 14. His latest book, "The Worst Person in the World," is based on the popular segment within "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" and another, based on his "Countdown Special Comments" will be published next winter. Olbermann received a bachelor's of science degree in communications arts from Cornell University. He lives in New York City.

FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA

"Football Night in America," NBC's primetime NFL studio show which precedes "NBC Sunday Night Football," offers a complete recap of the top stories in the NFL, complete with highlights, analysis and reports from around the league. Olbermann joins Bob Costas (host), Cris Collinsworth (co-host), Jerome "The Bus" Bettis (analyst), Tiki Barber (analyst) and Peter King (reporter) to comprise the "Football Night in America" studio team. David Neal is the Executive Producer and Sam Flood the Coordinating Producer of "Football Night in America."